PETALING JAYA: Terengganu have one foot placed firmly in the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Cup following a 4-0 win over M3 League leaders Kuala Lumpur Rovers and that has made coach Tomislav Steinbruckner very happy.
Croatian Ivan Mamut was on fire as he notched a hattrick at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras in the round-of-16 first-leg match on Friday to help the Turtles take a comfortable lead for the return leg in Terengganu on Aug 18.
The 26-year-old Croatian opened accounts in the 18th minute before doubling Terengganu’s lead late into injury time in the first half when he slotted home a cross from Haitian Sony Norde.
Norde then had another assist to his name when he laid on a perfect pass for Engku Mohd Nur Shakir Engku Yacob to make it 3-0 in the 52nd minute before Mamut sealed the rout with his third goal in the 67th minute.
Steinbruckner is satisfied with the team’s goal spree.
“It’s a great result. I gave chances to some players who didn’t play much before in the Super League and they lived up to my expectations,” said Steinbruckner.
“Overall, I’m satisfied even though this match looks easy but it was difficult from the beginning.
“Ivan scored three goals and could have probably scored more. He has the quality and I expect more from him in the next game.’’
Steinbruckner plans to use the same strategy by resting the main players to give a chance to the young ones to perform in front of their own supporters.
“We are leading comfortably by four goals. We can rest the main players and give those from the Under-23 squad a chance to play because it is important for the future of the club.
“At one point in this match, our backline was led by Under-23 players like Rahadiazli Rahalim, Ubaidullah Shamsul Fazili, Azam Azmi and Safwan Mazlan,” he added.
Defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) also showed they meant business when they trounced Kelantan 5-1 in the last 16 at the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium in Kota Baru.
Johor took just seven minutes to open the floodgates, with prolific Brazilian hitman Bergson Da Silva coolly beating Kelantan goalkeeper Mohd Irfan Haikal Mohd Iffendi in a one-on-one situation.
JDT’s new striker Heberty Fernandes of Brazil then notched a brace in the 15th and 24th minutes to put the side 3-0 up.
Defender Shahrul Mohd Saad made it 4-0 in the 50th minute and Mohd Nazmi Faiz Mansor added a fifth in the 67th minute.
Kelantan managed to get a consolation goal via Mohd Khala’If Mohd Naskam five minutes before the end.
In another game, Super League side Pahang have substitute Mohd Baqiuddin Shamsuddin to thank when he scored the winner in added time to beat M3 League club Harini 3-2 at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi, Negri Sembilan.
Pahang had taken a 2-0 lead through David Rowley (20th minute) and Muhd Syazwan Andik Mohd Ishak (54th) before the home side staged a superb comeback to draw level with goals by Mohd Fikri Mohd Shah (59th) and former national striker Norshahrul Idlan Talaha (74th).
Pahang will welcome Harini to the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan for the return leg on Aug 20.
